Biographies

Mr. Larry S. McWilliams is Independent Chairman of the Board of the company. He has served as an Independent Director of Armstrong World Industries since July 2010, where has also been a member of Armstrong World Industries’ Audit and Management Development and Compensation committees. Mr. McWilliams was previously the President and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Foods, a producer of proteins, from May 2011 to May 2012. From May 2005 to October 2010, he served as a Senior Vice President at Campbell Soup Company and subsequently became the President of Campbell International, responsible for all of Campbell Soup’s business in Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Mr. McWilliams joined Campbell Soup in March 2001 as Senior Vice President Sales and Chief Customer Officer, overseeing the company’s relationships with its global retail partners. In April 2003, he assumed the position of President North America Soup. Mr. McWilliams was named Senior Vice President and President Campbell USA in March 2004. Prior to Campbell Soup, Mr. McWilliams held positions at Coca-Cola from 1995 to 2001 and the Pillsbury Company from 1993 to 1995. Mr. McWilliams also serves as a member of the boards of directors of Bob Evans Farms, Inc., a full-service restaurant company (since 2014) and Godiva Chocolatiers International, a privately held company (since 2012). Mr. McWilliams formerly served on the Board of Governors of St. Joseph’s University Food Marketing Council and the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association’s Industry Affairs Council.

Mr. Donald R. Maier is President, Chief Executive Officer, Director of the company. He has served as both the Division Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Armstrong Flooring Products. He joined Armstrong World Industries in January 2010, serving as Senior Vice President of Global Operations Excellence. Don came to Armstrong World Industries from TPG Capital Advisors, the global buyout group of TPG Global, a global private investment firm (“TPG”). Prior to TPG, he held a steady progression of roles at Hillenbrand Industries, beginning in 1987, as a manufacturing and product engineer for the company’s subsidiary Batesville Casket Company before later moving from product development and marketing leadership roles to Vice President of Manufacturing and Operations. In 2002, he became Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, for a larger Hillenbrand subsidiary, Hill-Rom. In 2003, Don became Vice President and General Manager of Hill Rom’s North America division before being named Senior Vice President in 2005. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and an MBA, with a concentration in Marketing, from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mr. Ronald D. Ford is re designated as Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President, Principal Accounting Officer of the Company effective March 15, 2018. Mr. Ford currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Silgan Containers, a manufacturer and distributor of metal food containers in North America. Prior to joining Silgan Containers in 2010, Mr. Ford served in various senior executive officer capacities at St. Clair Vision and Wells Real Estate Funds, as well as at other companies. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree at Vanderbilt University, and an executive doctorate at Case Western Reserve University.

Mr. Scott W. Hess is Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer of the Company. He was Chief Information Officer, Vice President of the company. Prior to joining Armstrong in 2015, he served as the Managing Director with Huron Consulting Group, where he led the IT Strategy and Management practice. Scott has over twenty years of experience as a management consultant, providing strategy, operations and technology solutions to commercial, healthcare, government and higher education clients. He began his consulting career at Arthur Andersen and later served as Managing Director and Partner for Grant Thornton and as a Partner with SMART Business Advisory & Consulting. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University, in State College, Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Mr. Christopher S. Parisi serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, General Counsel, Secretary of the company. He joined Armstrong World Industries in October 2011, serving as Vice President, Corporate Governance until June 2014, at which time he was appointed Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Secretary. Chris came to Armstrong from Toll Brothers, Inc., a luxury home builder. Prior to Toll Brothers, he provided similar public company corporate governance, commercial and transactional legal support at Orthovita, Inc. (now Stryker), an orthobiologics medical device manufacturer, and IKON Office Solutions, Inc. (now RICOH Americas), an office equipment distributor and services provider. Chris began his legal career at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He holds a bachelor’s degree from La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Widener University Delaware Law School in Wilmington, Delaware.

Mr. Brent A. Flaharty is Senior Vice President, North America Sales of the company. He joined the Company in December 2016 as Vice President, Residential Sales. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Flaharty served as Chief Revenue Officer of Mag Instrument, Inc. (Maglite®) (2016), Chief Marketing Officer of Exemplis Corporation (2015 – 2016), and Vice President and Business Leader, North America, of Masonite International Corporation (2012 – 2015). From 1997 to 2012, Mr. Flaharty served in various strategic, business development, sales, and marketing capacities for Stanley Black and Decker, Inc.

Mr. John C. Bassett serves as Senior Vice President - Human Resources of the company. He joined Armstrong World Industries in 1998, has held several leadership roles throughout his Armstrong career, beginning with Plant Human Resources Manager and progressing to General Manager of Human Resources of Armstrong Flooring Products, General Manager of Human Resources of Armstrong Wood Products, Vice President of Human Resources, Armstrong Flooring Products, Vice President of Human Resources, Global Operating & Supply Chain of Armstrong Corporate, General Manager, Hardwood Manufacturing of Armstrong Flooring Products and most recently Vice President, Human Relations for Armstrong Flooring Products. John holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Maine, in Orono, Maine.

Mr. Dominic C. Rice serves as Senior Vice President - North America Commercial of the company. Previously, he served as the Vice President of Commercial Flooring of Armstrong Flooring Products. Dominic joined Armstrong World Industries in 1981 in Building Products Sales, and held a steady progression of roles in Sales, Marketing and General Management before moving to the flooring business. From 1995 to 1999, he served as Managing Director of Armstrong Flooring Product’s Australian flooring business before relocating to the United States to manage the commercial flooring product portfolio. Dominic has over thirty years of experience in the commercial building materials industry, in both the North American and international markets, and is a current member of the board of directors, and past Chairman, of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute.

Ms. Kimberly Z. Boscan is no longer Vice President, Controller of the Company effective March 15, 2018. She is currently serves as Interim Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Controller of the Company, effective May 8, 2017. She joined Armstrong World Industries (AWI) in October 2015, serving as Vice President, Controller, Flooring. Prior to joining AWI, from 2012 to 2015 she performed management consulting through her firm, Zeiser Boscan Enterprises, LLC, and through Vaco Indianapolis, LLC. In 2008, Kimberly joined Mead John Nutrition in advance of its spin-off from Bristol-Meyer Squibb to serve as Assistant Controller, a role she held until 2012. Additionally, from 1997 to 2007, she held a variety of roles within the finance organization of Ford Motor Company. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California University of Pennsylvania in California, Pa. and an MBA, with a concentration in finance, from University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Mr. John B. Hillenbrand is Vice President - Global Research and Development of the company. He joined Armstrong World Industries (AWI) in January 2016 as VP, Global Research and Development. He has more than 20 years of innovation experience, with the majority in leadership roles. He comes to Armstrong Flooring from Owens Corning (OC) where he was VP and chief innovation officer. In this role, John led the development of innovative solutions in insulation, roofing, and composites, delivering differential value to OC’s global customers. Prior to working at OC, John worked for the DuPont Company as VP, Innovation and Technology for the packaging and industrial polymers business where he was responsible for all technology and new business development activities for the $2.5B global business unit. His extensive career with DuPont also includes roles in manufacturing, product management, and corporate venturing. John earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his master’s and doctorate in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Mr. Michael F. Johnston is Independent Director of the company. He served as Chief Executive Officer (2004 to 2008) and President and Chief Operating Officer (2000 to 2004) of Visteon Corporation, an automotive components supplier. Former President of North America/Asia Pacific, Automotive Systems Group (1999 to 2000), President of Americas Automotive Group (1997 to 1999), and other senior management positions at Johnson Controls, Inc., an automotive and building services company. In May 2009, Visteon filed for voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Ms. Kathleen S. Lane is Independent Director of the company. She has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of TJX Companies, Inc., a specialty multi-national apparel retailer with leading retail brands such as T-J-Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods (2008 to 2013). Group Chief Information Officer at National Grid Plc., an international electricity and gas utility (2006 to 2008). Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Gillette Company (Procter & Gamble) (2002 to 2006).

Mr. Jeffrey Liaw is Independent Director of the company. He has served as an Independent Director of Armstrong World Industries since June 2012. Mr. Liaw is the Chief Financial Officer of Copart, Inc., a leading global provider of online auctions and vehicle remarketing services. Prior to joining Copart in January of 2016, Mr. Liaw was the Chief Financial Officer of FleetPride, Inc., a nationwide supplier of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts. Prior to joining FleetPride in December 2012, Mr. Liaw was a principal of TPG Capital for seven years and was active in TPG’s energy and industrial investing practice areas. Before joining TPG in 2005, Mr. Liaw was an associate at Bain Capital, a private equity investment firm, in its Industrials practice. Mr. Liaw previously served as a member of the boards of directors of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, a provider of packaging solutions for consumer products companies (2008 to 2013), including as a member of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC.

Mr. Michael W. Malone is Independent Director of the Company. He was the Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Polaris Industries Inc. (“Polaris”) from January 1997 through July 2015, and retired from Polaris in March 2016. From January 1997 to January 2010, Mr. Malone also served as Corporate Secretary of Polaris. Mr. Malone was Vice President and Treasurer of Polaris from December 1994 to January 1997 and was Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the predecessor company of Polaris from January 1993 to December 1994. Mr. Malone joined Polaris in 1984 after four years with Arthur Andersen L.L.P. Mr. Malone has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Don Stevens LLC, a privately-held regional distributor of commercial HVAC and refrigeration equipment, since 2011.

Mr. James C. Melville is Independent Director of the company. He has served as an Independent Director of Armstrong World Industries since 2012. Mr. Melville is a member of the Minneapolis-based law firm of Kaplan, Strangis and Kaplan, P.A., where he has practiced in the corporate, governance, mergers and acquisitions, securities and financial areas since 1994. Prior to joining Kaplan, Strangis and Kaplan, P.A., Mr. Melville practiced with Dorsey and Whitney in their Minneapolis, Minnesota and London, England offices. Mr. Melville previously served as a member of Armstrong World Industries’s board of directors from September 2009 until July 2010. Mr. Melville is active in numerous local and civic organizations and their boards.

Mr. James J. O'Connor is Independent Director of the company. He is a retired Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Unicom Corporation. Mr. O’Connor joined Commonwealth Edison Company in 1963, became President in 1977, a member of the board of directors in 1978 and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1980. In 1994, Mr. O’Connor was also named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Unicom Corporation, which then became the parent company of Commonwealth Edison Company, from which he retired in 1998. Mr. O’Connor previously served on the boards of directors of the following companies: Trizec Properties, Inc. (2003 to 2006); Corning, Inc. (1984 to 2011); Smurfit – Stone Container Corporation (2000 to 2011); and United Continental Holdings, Inc. (1984 to 2012). Mr. O’Connor has a broad business background, having served in several chief and senior executive positions with large companies and on the boards of directors of companies as diverse as a utility company, an industrial manufacturing company and an airline.

Mr. Jacob H. Welch is Independent Director of the company. He is currently a Partner at ValueAct Capital. Prior to joining ValueAct Capital in August 2009, Mr. Welch worked as an analyst with The Blackstone Group in its private equity division in New York. Mr. Welch offers our board of directors his advisory experience with Value Act’s portfolio companies, as well as his knowledge and expertise in finance.

Related Topics:

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest international multimedia news provider reaching more than one billion people every day. Reuters provides trusted business, financial, national, and international news to professionals via Thomson Reuters desktops, the world's media organizations, and directly to consumers at Reuters.com and via Reuters TV. Learn more about Thomson Reuters products: